Game Preview: Monsters at Crunch 3/1
In the fourth of four meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Syracuse Crunch, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, on Wednesday with full coverage, live from Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse, NY, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-6 road loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 22-23-4-2 on the season. With 50 standings points, the Monsters currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (22-33-55), RW Emil Bemstrom (14-17-31), and C Justin Richards (9-22-31).
CRUNCH PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-0 road win over the Toronto Marlies on Sunday, the Syracuse Crunch enter tonight’s game at 25-19-4-3 on the season. With 57 standings points, the Crunch currently rank second in the North Division standings and seventh in the Eastern Conference. Syracuse is currently led in scoring by C Alex Barre-Boulet (17-46-63), D Darren Raddysh (13-37-50), and C Simon Ryfors (19-22-41).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Wednesday marks the fourth of four meetings between the Monsters and Crunch this season (3-0-0-0, +4 goal differential [15/11]) and the second of two games between the two clubs at Upstate Medical University Arena this year (1-0-0-0, +2 goal differential [4/2]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 19 GP, (7-8-2), 0 SO, 3.55 GAA, .873 S% |
| LAST APP | (14/18) in first 35:35 of 2-6 L at GR 2/25/23 | |
| HEAD TO HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 9 GP, (5-3-1), 0 SO, 3.24 GAA, .886 S% | |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 6 GP, (3-3-0), 0 SO, 4.27 GAA, .868 S% |
| LAST APP | (33/35) in 5-2 W at CLT 1/22/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 5 GP, (2-3-0), 0 SO, 4.85 GAA, .850 S% |
CRUNCH GOALTENDERS:
| 33 Max Lagace | OVERALL | 28 GP, (11-9-5), 1 SO, 3.55 GAA, .881 S% |
| LAST APP. | (26/28) in 3-2 W vs WBS 2/24/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 4.62 GAA, .868 S% | |
| AT HOME | 13 GP, (6-2-4), 0 SO, 3.35 GAA, .898 S% | |
| 35 Jack LaFontaine | OVERALL | 4 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 2.43 GAA, .919 S% |
| LAST APP. | (12/13) in 38:44 of relief in 3-4 L vs ROC 1/7/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 1.21 GAA, .956 S% | |
| 60 Hugo Alnefelt | OVERALL | 23 GP, (13-8-1), 3 SO, 2.25 GAA, .923 S% |
| LAST APP. | (16/16) in 1-0 W at TOR 2/26/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 4.07 GAA, .886 S% | |
| AT HOME | 11 GP, (4-6-0), 0 SO, 2.53 GAA, .918 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- TERRIFIC TREY: Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in points (55, T6th), goals (22, T11th), assists (33, T9th), shots (161, 6th), power-play goals (9, T7th), power-play points (24, T5th), and shootout goals (3, T6th). Fix-Wolansky is also scoring at a two point per game pace vs. Syracuse this season (3 GP, 1-5-6).
- ROAD WARRIOR: Monsters C Josh Dunne is currently riding a five-game road goal streak (5), tied for the AHL’s longest such active streak and tied for the second longest streak of its kind in the AHL this season.
- ROOKIE SENSATION: Cleveland D David Jiricek currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in power-play assists (14, 2nd) and power-play points (18, T3rd) and ranks among the league’s defensive leaders in power-play goals (4, T3rd) and points (28, T18th).
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